Phylogenetically distant enzymes localized in cytosol and plastids drive citral biosynthesis in lemongrass.

Citral, a naturally occurring acyclic monoterpene aldehyde, is present in the essential oils of various plants, but only a few produce it in abundance. Despite its importance as a key aroma molecule, knowledge regarding the in-planta biosynthesis of citral and its metabolic origin remains limited. Here, we have elucidated the functions of an alcohol dehydrogenase (CfADH1) and an aldoketo-reductase (CfAKR2b) in citral biosynthesis in lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), one of the most cultivated aromatic crops for its citral-rich essential oil.

Betulinic acid mitigates oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and enhances longevity in the yeast model.

Betulinic acid (BA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid found in certain plant species, has been reported to have several health benefits including antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. However, the mechanism by which BA confers these properties is currently unknown. , a budding yeast with a short life cycle and conserved cellular mechanism with high homology to humans, was used as a model for determining the role of BA in aging and programmed cell death (PCD).

Molecular characterization of India Ginseng Withania somnifera (L) using ISSR markers.

Background: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal), popularly known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry is a multipurpose plant of immense therapeutic value in the ayurvedic and indigenous medicine system and distributed in wide geographic locations and exhibiting extensive phenotypic and chemical variability.

Methods And Results: The present study was carried out to assess the molecular genetic diversity among 4 CIMAP varieties and five local cultivars of ashwagandha and cluster dendrograms were created by using 20 ISSR primers.

Virus-Induced Gene Silencing for Functional Genomics in Withania somnifera, an Important Indian Medicinal Plant.

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) has emerged as a fast and efficient reverse and forward genetics tool to study gene function in model plants as well as in agriculturally important plants. In addition, VIGS approach has been successfully used to provide insights into the role of several genes and regulators involved in plant secondary metabolism. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an important Indian medicinal plant that accumulates pharmacologically important triterpenoid steroidal lactones, which are collectively termed as withanolides.

The role of P-type IIA and P-type IIB Ca2+-ATPases in plant development and growth.

As sessile organisms, plants have evolved mechanisms to adapt to variable and rapidly fluctuating environmental conditions. Calcium (Ca2+) in plant cells is a versatile intracellular second messenger that is essential for stimulating short- and long-term responses to environmental stresses through changes in its concentration in the cytosol ([Ca2+]cyt). Increases in [Ca2+]cyt direct the strength and length of these stimuli.

RNAi of Sterol Methyl Transferase1 Reveals its Direct Role in Diverting Intermediates Towards Withanolide/Phytosterol Biosynthesis in Withania somnifera.

The medicinal properties of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) are accredited to a group of compounds called withanolides. 24-Methylene cholesterol is the intermediate for sterol biosynthesis and a proposed precursor of withanolide biogenesis. However, conversion of 24-methylene cholesterol to withaferin A and other withanolides has not yet been biochemically dissected.

A WRKY transcription factor from Withania somnifera regulates triterpenoid withanolide accumulation and biotic stress tolerance through modulation of phytosterol and defense pathways.

Withania somnifera produces pharmacologically important triterpenoid withanolides that are derived via phytosterol pathway; however, their biosynthesis and regulation remain to be elucidated. A jasmonate- and salicin-inducible WRKY transcription factor from W. somnifera (WsWRKY1) exhibiting correlation with withaferin A accumulation was functionally characterized employing virus-induced gene silencing and overexpression studies combined with transcript and metabolite analyses, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.

Transcriptomic insight into terpenoid and carbazole alkaloid biosynthesis, and functional characterization of two terpene synthases in curry tree (Murraya koenigii).

Curry tree (Murraya koenigii L.) is a rich source of aromatic terpenes and pharmacologically important carbazole alkaloids. Here, M.

Iodine catalyzed simple and efficient synthesis of antiproliferative 2-pyridones.

A simple and efficient method for the selective synthesis of 2-pyrdones from 4H-pyrans using iodine as catalyst and ethanol as solvent was developed. The present method is equally effective for both aromatic and hetero aromatic ring containing 4H-pyrans. The compatibility with various functional groups, mild reaction conditions, high yields and application of inexpensive, readily and easily available iodine as catalyst and formation of 2-pyridones as major products are the advantages of the present procedure.

Synthesis and evaluation of anticancer and antiobesity activity of 1-ethoxy carbonyl-3,5-bis (3'-indolyl methylene)-4-pyperidone analogs.

A series of eleven novel bisindole derivatives were synthesized and screened for anticancer and antiobesity potentials in in vitro mode. The reaction of 1-ethoxy carbonyl 4-pyperidone 1a with indole-3-carboxaldehyde 1b in presence of catalytic amount of piperidine gave 2 which was N-alkylated with different benzyl halides in the presence of potassium carbonate to afford compounds 3a-3k in quantitative yields. Among the compounds tested for anticancer activity against different human cancer cell lines, 3f significantly inhibited HepG2 cell line (IC50 7.

Precursor feeding studies and molecular characterization of geraniol synthase establish the limiting role of geraniol in monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus leaves.

The monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) are generally derived from strictosidine, which is formed by condensation of the terpene moiety secologanin and the indole moiety tryptamine. There are conflicting reports on the limitation of either terpene or indole moiety in the production of MIAs in Catharanthus roseus cell cultures. Formation of geraniol by geraniol synthase (GES) is the first step in secologanin biosynthesis.

Virus-induced gene silencing of Withania somnifera squalene synthase negatively regulates sterol and defence-related genes resulting in reduced withanolides and biotic stress tolerance.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is an important Indian medicinal plant that produces withanolides, which are triterpenoid steroidal lactones having diverse biological activities. To enable fast and efficient functional characterization of genes in this slow-growing and difficult-to-transform plant, a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was established by silencing phytoene desaturase (PDS) and squalene synthase (SQS).

Synthesis, docking and ADMET studies of novel chalcone triazoles for anti-cancer and anti-diabetic activity.

A series of novel chalcone-triazole derivatives were synthesized and screened for in vitro anticancer activity on the human cancer cell lines IMR32 (neuroblastoma), HepG2 (hepatoma) and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), DU-145 (prostate carcinoma), and A549 (lung adenocarcinoma). Among the tested compounds, 4r showed the most promising anticancer activity in all the cell lines whereas, compounds 4c (IC50 65.86 μM), 4e (IC50 66.

Synthesis of cyclic 1,9-acetal derivatives of forskolin and their bioactivity evaluation.

A new series of 1,9-acetals of forskolin were synthesized by treating with aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes using Ceric ammonium nitrate as catalyst and evaluated for anticancer and α-glucosidase inhibition activities. Among the synthesized compounds 2a, 2b and 3a showed potential cytotoxic activity towards human cancer cell lines MCF-7 (Human Breast Adenocarcinoma), MDA-MB (Human Breast Carcinoma), HeLa (Human Cervix Adenocarcinoma), A498 (Human Kidney Carcinoma), K562 (Human Erythromyeloblastoid leukemia), SH-SY5Y (Human Neuroblastoma), Hek293 (Human Embryonic Kidney) and WRL68 (Human Hepatic) with IC50 values ranging between 0.95 and 47.

Chemical composition of root aroma of Decalepis arayalpathra (J. Joseph and V. Chandras.) Venter, an endemic and endangered ethnomedicinal plant from Western Ghats, India.

Decalepis arayalpathra (J. Joseph and V. Chandras.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling studies of some novel thiazolidinediones with triazole ring.

A new series of thiazolidinedione derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition and anticancer activities. Compounds 3d, 3e and 3j showed potential α-glucosidase inhibition with IC₅₀ values ranging between 0.1 and 0.

Heteromeric and homomeric geranyl diphosphate synthases from Catharanthus roseus and their role in monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis.

Catharanthus roseus is the sole source of two most important monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) anti-cancer agents: vinblastine and vincristine. MIAs possess a terpene and an indole moiety derived from terpenoid and shikimate pathways, respectively. Geranyl diphosphate (GPP), the entry point to the formation of terpene moiety, is a product of the condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) by GPP synthase (GPPS).